Water ski launching system



1957 F. M. COLLINS ETAL 3,303,813

WATER SKI LAUNCHING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 6, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 r; l 22211 -l 54A) I' 3A INVENTORSY FRANKLIN M.0ou.ms# 28 LARENCE H.GH.LEY

i l BY g v max, ATTORNEYS e 1967 F. M.COLL1NS ETAL 3,303,813

WATER SKI LAUNCHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1965 UnitedStates Patent Filed on. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,499 6 Claims. or. 114-235The present invention relates in general to launching and retrievingapparatus and more particularly is concerned with a novel type of boatmounted apparatus for launching and retrieving a water skier.

The launching and retrieving of a water skier is relatively hazardousand, of course, would tend to make it ditficult for a novice skier tolearn the sport. In addition, some water ski tow craft are underpowered,making it rather difficult to start a water skier when both the boat andthe skier are stationary in the water. It is generally desirable tolaunch a water skier while the tow craft is underway.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor launching a water skier from the boat which is generally adaptablefor installation upon any size boat of the type used to a tow a skier.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a waterskier launching apparatus utilizing an extensible boom extending fromthe side hull of the tow boat having a pulley system permitting thetowline to be positioned alongside the boat, so that the skier may holdonto the boat when starting and stopping, thereby making it easier forthe novice skier to learn the sport.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a waterskier launching apparatus which has suitable winch apparatus to bothreel out and reel in the towline.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a water skierlaunching apparatus which is of simple construction having long wearingcharacteristics which is cheaper to manufacture and highly effectivewhen utilized in the desired manner.

Further aims, objects and advantages of this invention will appear froma consideration of the following description and the accompanyingdrawings showing for purely illustrative purposes embodiments of thisinvention. It is to be understood, however, that the description is notto be taken in a limiting sense, the scope of the invention beingdefined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presentinvention mounted upon a suitable tow boat with a water skier positionedalongside in a desired manner;

F IGURE 2 is a partial horizontal section view looking downwardlythrough the bow of the boat showing in plan view the apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial vertical section view through a bow section of theboat showing the extensible boom arm partially in section and partiallyin side elevation;

FIGURE 4 is a partial horizontal section view similar to that of FIGURE2; however, showing another embodiment of the present inventionutilizing dual extensible boom arms; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the present invention similar to thatof FIGURE 1; however, showing the invention mounted topside of the towboat and being manually operated.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several figures, the water skilaunching and retrieving apparatus is generally indicated by the numeral10. The apparatus is designed to be mounted upon a suitable type of towboat 11 and generally in the forward how section of the boat. In theembodiment of FIGURES l to 3, the apparatus is mounted in a concealedmanner and includes a motorized winch 12 which is adapted to reel in andreel out the water ski towline 13. The towline 13 is preferablypositioned alongside the boat for easy handling by the water skier bymeans of an extensible boom arm 14 which projects outwardly from thehull 15 of the boat.

The motorized winch 12 is mounted in a convenient position in theforward portion of the tow boat and generally comprises a takeup drum16' having sufficient capacity 'to reel in all of the towline 13. At oneside of the takeup drum 16 is a gear 17 which meshes with the motoroutput gear 18 affixed to the output of the winch gear box 19. The gearbox 19 is an integral part of the housing for the high torque electricalmotor 21. The motor 21 is preferably supplied with electrical energythrough the electrical cable 22 from the boats battery power supply (notshown). For ease of control by the boat driver, the winch is providedwith a towline winch control panel 23 having a winch control handle 24which may bemoved by the driver in the appropriate direction to causethe reversible motor 21 to effect either reeling in or reeling out ofthe towline 13.

As noted above, the extensible boom arm 14 projects outwardly from thehull of the boat 15 and is generally an elongated tubular member havinga pair of boom arm retaining pin apertures 25 and 26. At the outermostend of the boom arm a longitudinal slot 27 is provided in which there isrotatably mounted a boom arm idler pulley 28 upon a pulley axle 29. Theidler pulley 28 and the end of the boom arm 14 are protected by a guardmember 31 affixed to each end of the pulley axle 29 and extending in acurving manner about the end of the boom arm 14. In order that boom arm14 may be held substantially rigid within the boat, there is provided aboom arm support 32 of elongated cylindrical cross-section which acceptsthe boom arm 14 in sliding engagement. The boom arm support is affixedto the boat hull 15 by means of a radial flange 33 and a plurality ofboom arm support fasteners 34-.

It is contemplated that the boom arm 14 should have two or morepositions in which it may be fixed relative to the boat hull. Thereshould be at least two positions corresponding to the boom arm retainingpin apertures 25 and 26 which preferably represent the withdrawn and theextended positions of the boom arm 14. As seen in FIGURES 1 to 3 theIboom arm is in an extended position whereby the retaining pin 35 passesthrough the pin apertures 36 of the boom arm support 32 and thencethrough the boom arm retaining pin aperture 26. If it is desired toretract the boom arm, retaining pin 35 would be withdrawn and the boomarm reciprocated into the boom arm support until the retaining pinaperture 25 would align itself with the boom arm support aperture 36, atwhich time the pin 35 would be inserted therethrough.

Whether in the extended or withdrawn position, the boom arm 14 supportsthe towline 13 by means of the idler pulley 28. The towline 13 ispositioned about the takeup drum 16 and then passes around the bow idlerpulley 37, through the boat hull grommet 38 and then about the boom armidler pulley terminating thereafter in the towline handle 39.

In the embodiment shown by FIGURE 4 there is provided a dual system inwhich a boom arm 14 extends from each side of the boat with each boomarm provided with independent towliness 13. The towlines 13 are mountedabout a takeup drum 16 in the same manner as previously described.However, the plural takeup drums are mounted in a side by side relationupon a common drive axle 41. In order that the towliness 13 may be fedto the a center of each takeup drum, there is a separate drum idlerpulley 42 positioned forward of the drums so that the towlines arecentrally positioned herein, it is desired that the drums may beoperated concurrently or independently of one another. For this reason,there is provided a pair of operating levers 43 which engage a suitableclutch mechanism upon each drum so that the selected drum may be causedto engage the drive axle 41 upon command of the boat driver. Upon thewinch motor 21 being energized, the gear box 19 imparts power to thedrive axle 41 and thence to the desired takcup drum depending, ofcourse, upon whether the drum is engaged with the drive axle. In thismanner, each of the dual systems may be operated independently to launchand retrieve water skiers at each side of the boat.

In the third embodiment of the present invention shown by FIGURE it isdesired to have a mechanical launching and retrieving apparatus Whichmight be preferably mounted u on the topside of the bow of the boat.Such a system might well embody the hand operated winch 44 having asuitable handle 45 to rotate a takeup drum 46 thereby reeling in orreeling out a towline 47 which is positioned about a bow idler pulley 48and a boom idler pulley 49. The boom idler pulley 49 would be affixed inthe manner previously discussed to a boom arm 51 which would be slidablyreceived within a boom arm support 52 and secured thereto in a fixedrelation by pin 53. It is anticipated that the winch 44, idler pulley 48and boom arm support 52 would be fastened to the topside of the boat.

While the invention herein has been described utilizing a fixed lengthboom arm, it is contemplated that other boom arms of differentconstruction may be utilized. Boom arms which telescope might be easilysubstituted for the fixed length boom arm as described herein.

In operation of the apparatus of the invention, the person preparing towater ski would essentially sit upon the gunwhale of the boat until theboat reaches normal skiing speed. At this time, the skier would easehimself downwardly over the side of the boat until the skis are touchingthe water in a manner parallel to the direction of motion of the boat.At the same time the skier would maintain one hand upon the towlinehandle 39 and one hand upon the gunwhale of the boat. In this manner theskier would attain instant planing upon the water and he would maintainproper balance by holding onto both the towline handle and the boat.After proper balance and feel has been attained, the boat driver wouldthen allow the towline 13 to be reeled out thereby positioning the skierrearwardly of the boat in the normal manner. At the end of the skiingperiod, the boat driver would then cause the towline to be reeled inthereby moving the skier beside the boat so that the skier may onceagain grasp the boat for balance. At this point, the skier would then beable to sit down upon the gunwhale of the boat so as to gain confidencein the skiing operation without having to take the necessary falls.Using the apparatus of the present invention, a novice skier learns howto ski in a matter of minutes without having to experience the rigors offalling during the starting and stopping phases of water skiing.

Various modifications may be made in the invention without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore, thatonly such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by theprior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Water skier launching and retrieving apparatus for use in conjunctionwith a boat to selectively position a water skier from alongside theboat to the rear thereof comprising, a towline, a boom arm assemblymounted on the boat so as to project from the side of the boat at suchdistance forward of the transom to allow the skier to hold onto the sideof the boat at desired times, the boom armassembly including a supportmember afiixed to the boat and a boom arm engaging the support member,the boom arm having a free end projecting outwardly from the boat to oneside thereof, a reel means mounted upon the boat adapted to windablyreceive the towline, the towline being slidably engaged with the freeend of the boom arm, means to transmit rotary energy to the reel means2. Water skier launching and retrieving apparatus according to claim 1wherein the boom arm is extensible outwardly from the boat throughtelescoping movement in relation with the support member.

3. Water skier launching and retrieving apparatus according to claim 2wherein the support member is of elongated cylindrical construction,locking means adapted to interlock the boom arm at selected locationswith respect to the support member.

4. Water skier launching and retrieving apparatus according to claim 3wherein the locking means include a series of locking apertures in theboom arm and at least one locking aperture in the cylindrical portion ofthe support member, the apertures in the support member being adapted toelfect registry with an aperture in the boom arm, a retaining pinadapted for insertion through the registered apertures to effect lockingof the boom arm to the support member.

5. Water skier launching and retrieving apparatus according to claim 4wherein the means to transmit rotary energy to the reel means include anelectric motor, gear means transmitting rotary energy from the electricmotor to the reel means, control means in electrical connection with theelectric motor adaptable to energize the motor whereby the reel meansare rotated to windably retract the towline.

6. Water skier launching and retrieving apparatus for use in conjunctionwith a boat to selectively position one or more water skiers fromalongside the boat to the rear thereof comprising, a plurality oftowlines, a pair of boom arm assemblies mounted on the boat so as toproject from the side of the boat at such distance forward of thetransom to allow the skier to hold onto the side of the boat at desiredtimes, each boom arm assembly including a support member afiixcd toopposite sides of the boat and a boom arm engaging each support member,the boom arms each having a free end projecting outwardly from the boatto one side thereof, each boom arm being extensible outwardly from theboat through telescoping movement in relation with the associatedsupport member, each support member being of elongated cylindricalconstruction, locking means adapted to interlock each boom arm atselected locations with respect to each support member, the lockingmeans including a series of locking apertures in the boom arm and atleast one locking aperture in the cylindrical portion of the supportmembers, the apertures in the support members being adapted to effectregistry with an aperture in the boom arms, a retaining pin adapted forinsertion through the registered apertures to effect locking of eachboom arm to its associated support member, reel means mounted upon theboat adapted to windably receive the towlines, the towlines beingslidably engaged with the free end of the boom arms, means to transmitrotary energy to the reel means including an electric motor, gear meansinterposed between the electric motor and the reel means, control meansin electrical connection with the electric motor adaptable to energizethe motor whereby the reel means are rotated to windably retract thetowlines.

No references cited.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.

1. WATER SKIER LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVING APPARATUS FOR USE IN CONJUNCTIONWITH A BOAT TO SELECTIVELY POSITION A WATER SKIER FROM ALONGSIDE THEBOAT TO THE REAR THEREOF COMPRISING, A TOWLINE, A BOOM ARM ASSEMBLYMOUNTED ON THE BOAT SO AS TO PROJECT FROM THE SIDE OF THE BOAT AT SUCHDISTANCE FORWARD OF THE TRANSOM TO ALLOW THE SKIER TO HOLD ONTO THE SIDEOF THE BOAT AT DESIRED TIMES, THE BOOM ARM ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SUPPORTMEMBER AFFIXED TO THE BOAT AND A BOOM ARM ENGAGING THE SUPPORT MEMBER,THE BOOM ARM HAVING A FREE END PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOAT TO ONESIDE THEREOF, A REEL MEANS MOUNTED UPON THE BOAT ADAPTED TO WINDABLYRECEIVE THE TOWLINE, THE TOWLINE BEING SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH THE FREEEND OF THE BOOM ARM, MEANS TO TRANSMIT ROTARY ENERGY TO THE REEL MEANS.